microsim-generator

name	microsim-generator
description	Creates interactive educational MicroSims, routing to the best-matched generator - p5.js, Chart.js, Plotly, Mermaid, vis-network, timelines, maps, Venn, causal-loop/feedback-loop diagrams (CLD), concept-classifier sorting quizzes, infographic overlays with callout labels, and Docker Python labs (runnable code blocks). Generates complete MicroSim packages with HTML, JavaScript, CSS, documentation, and metadata.
model	opus

MicroSim Generator

Overview

This meta-skill routes MicroSim creation requests to the appropriate specialized generator based on visualization requirements. It consolidates 17 individual MicroSim generator skills into a single entry point with on-demand loading of specific implementation guides.

Six Python batch utilities in src/microsim-utils/ automate the repetitive parts of MicroSim generation (parsing specs, scaffolding files, inserting iframes, fixing iframe heights, validating quality, updating navigation), saving ~430K tokens per batch run. The agent's creative work is focused on writing the .js file.

Default Sequential Execution

When the microsim generator skill us used on all of the #### Diagram elements of a chapter, always run the microsim generator tasks sequentially unless the user specifically uses the phrase "execute in parallel".

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when users request:

• Interactive educational visualizations
• Data visualizations (charts, graphs, plots)
• Timelines or chronological displays
• Geographic/map visualizations
• Network diagrams or concept maps
• Flowcharts or workflow diagrams
• Mathematical function plots
• Set diagrams (Venn)
• Priority matrices or bubble charts
• Custom simulations or animations
• Comparison tables with ratings
• Matrix comparisons with expandable cell details
• Batch generation of MicroSims for a chapter

---

Step 0: Environment Setup

Before any generation work, establish paths and determine scope.

0.1 Set Paths

# Python utilities live in the claude-skills repo
UTILS="$HOME/Documents/ws/claude-skills/src/microsim-utils"

# Detect project root (directory containing mkdocs.yml)
PROJECT=$(python3 -c "
import os, sys
d = os.path.abspath('.')
while d != os.path.dirname(d):
    if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(d, 'mkdocs.yml')): print(d); sys.exit()
    d = os.path.dirname(d)
print('ERROR: mkdocs.yml not found', file=sys.stderr); sys.exit(1)
")

If the scripts are not found at $UTILS, check for them in the project's own src/microsim-utils/ directory.

0.2 Determine Scope

User Request	Route
"Generate MicroSims for chapter 11"	Chapter batch → Step 1
"Create a MicroSim for inscribed angles"	Single sim → Step 1B
"Build a timeline of Unix history"	Single sim → Step 1B

---

Step 1: Extract Specs from Chapter (Batch Route)

MANDATORY for chapter-level generation. Do NOT manually parse chapter markdown.

python3 $UTILS/extract-sim-specs.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --chapter <chapter-dir-name> \
    --output /tmp/ch-specs.json \
    --status-file /tmp/sim-status.json \
    --verbose

What this does:

• Parses all #### Diagram: and #### Drawing: headers from the chapter's index.md
• Extracts <details> block content, iframe paths, sim IDs, Bloom levels, and library hints
• Produces a JSON array of spec objects (one per sim)
• Generates a sim-status.json with lifecycle states: specified → scaffolded → implemented → validated → deployed

Read the output:

cat /tmp/ch-specs.json | python3 -m json.tool | head -60

Check the status file to see which sims need work:

python3 -c "
import json
with open('/tmp/sim-status.json') as f:
    for e in json.load(f):
        if e['status'] != 'deployed':
            print(f\"  {e['status']:12s}  {e['sim_id']}\")
"

After extracting, proceed to Step 2.

---

Step 1B: Single-Sim Shortcut

For a single MicroSim request (not a full chapter batch):

1. Write a 1-entry spec JSON manually:

cat > /tmp/ch-specs.json << 'EOF'
[{
    "sim_id": "inscribed-angle-theorem",
    "title": "Central vs Inscribed Angles Interactive",
    "summary": "Demonstrates the inscribed angle theorem",
    "heading_type": "Diagram",
    "chapter": "",
    "element_type": "microsim",
    "bloom_level": "Analyze",
    "library": "p5.js",
    "iframe_src": "",
    "iframe_height": "",
    "spec_text": "",
    "status": ""
}]
EOF

2. Run scaffold for just that sim:

python3 $UTILS/generate-sim-scaffold.py \
    --spec-file /tmp/ch-specs.json \
    --sim-id inscribed-angle-theorem \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --verbose

3. Jump to Step 3 (Instructional Design Checkpoint), then Step 4 (Implement .js).

---

Step 2: Scaffold Sim Directories

MANDATORY for batch generation. Do NOT manually create main.html, index.md, or metadata.json.

python3 $UTILS/generate-sim-scaffold.py \
    --spec-file /tmp/ch-specs.json \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --verbose

What this does:

• Creates docs/sims/<sim-id>/ directory for each spec
• Generates main.html with correct CDN links, <main> tag, and schema meta tag
• Generates index.md with frontmatter, iframe embed, fullscreen link, lesson plan skeleton
• Generates metadata.json with Dublin Core fields and educational metadata
• Skips directories that already exist (unless --force is used)

Using --force for partially-built sims:

When sim directories exist (with main.html + .js) but lack index.md or metadata.json, the scaffold script skips the entire directory by default. Use --force to regenerate all scaffold files. This is safe because the creative work lives in the .js file, which the scaffold never overwrites.

python3 $UTILS/generate-sim-scaffold.py \
    --spec-file /tmp/ch-specs.json \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --force \
    --verbose

After scaffolding, the agent ONLY writes .js files from here on.

---

Step 3: Instructional Design Checkpoint (MANDATORY)

Before writing any .js file, you MUST complete this checkpoint.

3.1 Identify Learning Objective Details

Extract from the specification:

• Bloom Level: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, or Create
• Bloom Verb: The action verb (explain, demonstrate, calculate, etc.)
• Learning Objective: The full statement of what learners will be able to do

3.2 Match Interaction Pattern to Bloom Level

Bloom Level	Appropriate Patterns	Inappropriate Patterns
Remember (L1)	Flashcards, matching, labeling	Complex simulations
Understand (L2)	Step-through worked examples, concrete data visibility	Continuous animation, particle effects
Apply (L3)	Parameter sliders, calculators, practice problems	Passive viewing only
Analyze (L4)	Network explorers, comparison tools, pattern finders	Pre-computed results
Evaluate (L5)	Sorting/ranking activities, rubric tools	No feedback mechanisms
Create (L6)	Builders, editors, canvas tools	Rigid templates

3.3 Answer These Questions

Before proceeding, answer these questions:

1. What specific data must the learner SEE?

   • Not "animated particles" but "the tokenized array ['physics', 'ball']"

2. Does the learner need to PREDICT before observing?

   • If YES → Use step-through with Next/Previous buttons
   • If YES → Do NOT use continuous animation

3. What does animation add that static arrows don't?

   • If you can't answer this clearly → Don't use animation

4. Is continuous animation appropriate for this Bloom level?

   • For Understand (L2) with verb "explain" → Almost always NO
   • For Apply (L3) with real-time feedback → Often YES

3.4 Modify Specification If Needed

If the specification requests animation/effects for an UNDERSTAND level objective:

• Flag this as a potential instructional design issue
• Recommend step-through pattern instead
• Ask user: "The specification requests animation, but for an 'explain' objective, a step-through approach with concrete data visibility typically supports learning better. Should I proceed with step-through instead?"

3.5 Document Your Decision

Add to your response:

Instructional Design Check:
- Bloom Level: [level]
- Bloom Verb: [verb]
- Recommended Pattern: [pattern]
- Specification Alignment: [aligned/modified]
- Rationale: [why this pattern supports the learning objective]

---

Step 4: Implement .js Files

This is where the agent's creative work happens. For each sim that needs implementation:

4.1 Analyze Request and Match Generator

Scan the spec for trigger keywords and match to the appropriate generator guide.

Quick Reference Routing Table

Trigger Keywords	Guide File	Library
timeline, dates, chronological, events, history, schedule, milestones	references/timeline-guide.md	vis-timeline
map, geographic, coordinates, latitude, longitude, locations, markers	references/map-guide.md	Leaflet.js
function, f(x), equation, plot, calculus, sine, cosine, polynomial	references/plotly-guide.md	Plotly.js
network, nodes, edges, graph, dependencies, concept map, knowledge graph	references/vis-network-guide.md	vis-network
flowchart, workflow, process, state machine, UML, sequence diagram	references/mermaid-guide.md	Mermaid.js
venn, sets, overlap, intersection, union, categories	references/venn-guide.md	Custom
chart, bar, line, pie, doughnut, radar, statistics, data	references/chartjs-guide.md	Chart.js
bubble, priority, matrix, quadrant, impact vs effort, risk vs value	references/bubble-guide.md	Chart.js
causal, feedback, loop, systems thinking, reinforcing, balancing, CLD, systems archetype	references/causal-loop-guide.md	vis-network
comparison, table, ratings, stars, side-by-side, features	references/comparison-table-guide.md	Custom
matrix, framework comparison, clickable cells, detail panel, expandable	references/html-table.md	Custom
animation, celebration, particles, confetti, effects	references/celebration-guide.md	p5.js
classify, classifier, categorize, sort scenarios, identify types, recognize patterns	references/concept-classifier-guide.md	p5.js
diagram overlay, callout labels, anatomy, labeled illustration, infographic overlay, explore/quiz modes	references/infographic-overlay-guide.md	Custom (diagram.js)
python lab, code runner, runnable code block, interactive python exercise, docker	references/docker-python-lab-guide.md	Custom (docker-lab.js)
custom, simulation, physics, interactive, bouncing, movement, p5.js	references/p5-guide.md	p5.js

Decision Tree

Has dates/timeline/chronological events?
  → YES: timeline-guide.md

Has geographic coordinates/locations?
  → YES: map-guide.md

Mathematical function f(x) or equation?
  → YES: plotly-guide.md

Nodes and edges/network relationships?
  → YES: vis-network-guide.md (or causal-loop-guide.md if systems thinking)

Flowchart/workflow/process diagram?
  → YES: mermaid-guide.md

Sets with overlaps (2-4 categories)?
  → YES: venn-guide.md

Priority matrix/2x2 quadrant/multi-dimensional?
  → YES: bubble-guide.md

Standard chart (bar/line/pie/radar)?
  → YES: chartjs-guide.md

Comparison table with ratings/stars?
  → YES: comparison-table-guide.md

Matrix comparison with clickable cells/detail panels?
  → YES: html-table.md

Celebration/particles/visual feedback?
  → YES: celebration-guide.md

Students classify scenarios into categories (sorting quiz)?
  → YES: concept-classifier-guide.md

Labeled illustration with interactive callout markers or hover zones?
  → YES: infographic-overlay-guide.md

Runnable Python code block executed in Docker?
  → YES: docker-python-lab-guide.md

Custom simulation/animation/physics?
  → YES: p5-guide.md

4.2 Load the Matched Guide

Read the corresponding guide file from the references/ directory and follow its workflow for writing the .js file.

4.3 Write ONLY the .js File

The scaffold (Step 2) already created main.html, index.md, and metadata.json. You only need to write docs/sims/<sim-id>/<sim-id>.js.

Each guide contains:

1. Library-specific requirements
2. Code templates and patterns
3. Best practices for that visualization type

4.4 MANDATORY: Add CANVAS_HEIGHT Comment to .js File

Every .js file MUST include a // CANVAS_HEIGHT: comment on its own line near the top of the file (within the first 10 lines). This is the primary source of truth for iframe height across all library types. The sync-iframe-heights.py utility and manual height-fixing rely on it.

No-.js sims: if a sim is rendered entirely by main.html and ships no <id>.js (some projects author Mermaid, vis-network, or custom-HTML sims this way), there is no .js to hold the comment. Store the height in the sim's metadata.json instead, as "canvasHeight": <integer> — the consistent structured fallback that downstream tooling reads next after the .js comment. See the microsim-utils skill's references/canvas-height-strategy.md for the full resolution order. Everything else in this step (how to calculate the number, the +2 iframe rule) is identical.

Format: // CANVAS_HEIGHT: <integer>

The value is the total pixel height the iframe needs to display the entire MicroSim without clipping — canvas, controls, legends, info panels, titles, and any padding.

How to Calculate CANVAS_HEIGHT by Library Type

Library	Formula	Example
p5.js	drawHeight + controlHeight + graphHeight (the canvasHeight variable)	// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 695
vis-network	container height + title (~35px) + info panel (~60px) + legend (~30px) + controls (~40px)	// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 685
Chart.js	chart container height + title (~35px) + controls (~40px) + legend (~30px)	// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 505
Plotly.js	plot div height + title (~35px) + controls (~40px)	// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 475
vis-timeline	timeline container height + title (~35px) + controls (~40px)	// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 475
Leaflet.js	map container height + title (~35px) + controls (~40px) + legend (~40px)	// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 515
Mermaid.js	diagram container height + title (~35px) + controls (~40px)	// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 475
Custom HTML (comparison table, html-table, venn)	total rendered height of all DOM elements	// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 600
Interactive Infographic Overlay	image container height + toolbar (~40px) + info panel (~60px)	// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 620

Examples for Each Library Type

p5.js:

// Predator-Prey Population Dynamics Simulator
// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 695
let drawHeight = 400;
let graphHeight = 180;
let controlHeight = 115;
let canvasHeight = drawHeight + graphHeight + controlHeight;

vis-network:

// Climate Feedback Loops - vis-network
// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 685
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {

Chart.js:

// Air Quality Trends Dashboard - Chart.js
// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 505
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {

Leaflet.js:

// Watershed Map - Leaflet
// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 515
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {

Interactive Infographic Overlay:

// Ecosystem Components Overlay
// CANVAS_HEIGHT: 620
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {

Rules

1. The comment MUST appear within the first 10 lines of the .js file so parsing tools can find it quickly.
2. The value MUST be an integer (no px suffix, no expressions).
3. The iframe height = CANVAS_HEIGHT + 2 (2px accounts for the iframe border). The sync-iframe-heights.py utility adds this automatically.
4. For p5.js sims, the CANVAS_HEIGHT value must equal drawHeight + controlHeight (plus graphHeight if present). Keep the existing named variables — the comment is a redundant-but-authoritative declaration for tooling.
5. When updating an existing sim, always update the CANVAS_HEIGHT comment if you change any height-related values.
6. If unsure about the height, render the sim in a browser, measure the total content height, and use that value. Err on the side of being slightly too tall (extra whitespace is better than clipped controls).

4.5 Handling Ambiguous Requests

If the request could match multiple generators:

1. Read references/routing-criteria.md for detailed scoring methodology
2. Score top 3 candidates using the 0-100 scale
3. Present options to user with reasoning:

   Based on your request, I recommend:
   1. [Generator A] (Score: 85) - Best for [reason]
   2. [Generator B] (Score: 70) - Alternative if you need [feature]
   3. [Generator C] (Score: 55) - Possible if [condition]
   
   Which would you prefer?
   

4. Proceed with user's selection

Common Ambiguities

Ambiguous Term	Clarification Needed
"graph"	Chart (ChartJS) or Network graph (vis-network)?
"diagram"	Structural (Mermaid), Network (vis-network), or Custom (p5)?
"map"	Geographic (Leaflet) or Concept map (vis-network)?
"table"	Star ratings (comparison-table) or Clickable cells with detail panels (html-table)?
"visualization"	What type of data? What interaction needed?

---

Step 5: Fix Chapter Iframes

MANDATORY for batch generation. Do NOT manually insert or edit iframes in chapter markdown.

python3 $UTILS/add-iframes-to-chapter.py \
    --chapter <chapter-dir-name> \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --fix-heights \
    --fix-paths \
    --verbose

What this does:

• Finds #### Diagram: / #### Drawing: headers that are missing iframe embeds
• Inserts <iframe> tags before the <details> block with correct relative paths
• --fix-heights: Parses .js files to detect createCanvas() height and sets iframe height to canvas height + 2px
• --fix-paths: Converts absolute paths (/sims/...) to relative (../../sims/...)
• Fixes height typos (500xp → 500px)

For all chapters at once:

python3 $UTILS/add-iframes-to-chapter.py \
    --all \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --fix-heights \
    --fix-paths \
    --verbose

Dry-run first to preview changes:

python3 $UTILS/add-iframes-to-chapter.py \
    --chapter <chapter-dir-name> \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --fix-heights --fix-paths \
    --dry-run --verbose

---

Step 6: Validate Quality

MANDATORY after implementing .js files. Do NOT rely on a manual checklist.

python3 $UTILS/validate-sims.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --format table \
    --verbose

What this does:

Scores each MicroSim on a 100-point rubric:

Category	Points	Checks
main.html	10	Exists (5), schema meta tag (3), <main> tag (2)
metadata.json	30	Present (10), required fields (10), educational (5), pedagogical (5)
index.md	35	Title (2), YAML (3), images (5), iframe (10), fullscreen (5), example (5), description (5)
Screenshot	5	PNG file exists
Lesson Plan	10	Section present in index.md
References	5	Section present in index.md
p5.js conventions	5	updateCanvasSize, no DOM buttons, querySelector parenting, no textFont('Segoe UI')

Grade scale: A (85+), B (70-84), C (50-69), D (<50)

Validate a single sim:

python3 $UTILS/validate-sims.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --sim <sim-id> \
    --verbose

Fix issues found, then re-validate to confirm improvements:

# After fixing issues...
python3 $UTILS/validate-sims.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --min-score 0 \
    --format table \
    --verbose

---

Step 6B: Sync Iframe Heights

MANDATORY after implementing .js files. Do NOT manually calculate iframe heights.

python3 $UTILS/sync-iframe-heights.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --verbose

What this does:

• Parses each sim's .js file to find the // CANVAS_HEIGHT: <value> comment (primary source, see Step 4.4)
• Falls back, in order, to "canvasHeight" in metadata.json (the place for sims with no .js), a <!-- CANVAS_HEIGHT: --> comment in main.html, then computed drawHeight + controlHeight from the .js
• Sets the iframe height to CANVAS_HEIGHT + 2 (2px for border)
• Updates the <iframe> height attribute in each sim's index.md and in every page under docs/ that embeds the sim — chapters, teacher guides, poster pages
• Skips sims that are already correct

Use sync-iframe-heights.py, not fix-iframe-heights.py. The latter is an own-page-only predecessor: it updates the sim's own index.md but silently leaves the chapter embeds inserted by Step 5 at their stale heights, so the sim looks right on its own page and clipped in the chapter.

Important: The // CANVAS_HEIGHT: comment in the .js file is the single source of truth for ALL library types (p5.js, vis-network, Chart.js, Leaflet, Mermaid, etc.). If the comment is missing, add it to the .js file before running this tool — see Step 4.4 for format and calculation rules.

Fix a single sim:

python3 $UTILS/sync-iframe-heights.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --sim <sim-id> \
    --verbose

Dry-run first to preview changes:

python3 $UTILS/sync-iframe-heights.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --dry-run --verbose

---

Step 6C: Verify Controls Visible in Iframe (Playwright)

MANDATORY after fixing iframe heights. This catches controls that extend beyond the iframe boundary — something static height calculation can miss, especially for sims with responsive layouts or narrow viewports.

TESTER="$HOME/.claude/skills/microsim-utils/scripts"

# Single sim (after generating one MicroSim)
python3 $TESTER/test-iframe-heights.py --sims-dir $PROJECT/docs/sims --sim <sim-id>

# All sims in a batch run
python3 $TESTER/test-iframe-heights.py --sims-dir $PROJECT/docs/sims

What this does:

• Launches headless Chromium via Playwright
• Loads each MicroSim's main.html in a viewport constrained to the iframe height from index.md
• Waits for libraries (p5.js, vis-network, Chart.js) to render
• Checks that all interactive controls (buttons, sliders, selects, checkboxes) are fully visible
• Reports PASS/FAIL with a suggested height for any failures

Prerequisites (one-time setup):

pip install playwright
playwright install chromium

If a sim fails:

1. Update the // CANVAS_HEIGHT: comment in the .js file to the suggested height minus 10
2. Re-run sync-iframe-heights.py for that sim
3. Re-run the Playwright test to confirm it passes

---

Step 7: Update Navigation

MANDATORY after creating new sims. Do NOT manually edit the MicroSims section of mkdocs.yml.

python3 $UTILS/update-mkdocs-nav.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --verbose

What this does:

• Scans docs/sims/ for directories containing index.md
• Extracts display titles from frontmatter or # Heading
• Replaces the entire - MicroSims: section in mkdocs.yml with an alphabetically sorted list
• Idempotent and safe to run multiple times

Dry-run first:

python3 $UTILS/update-mkdocs-nav.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --dry-run --verbose

---

Step 8: Generate a Screen Image of the MicroSim

A screen image of the microsim is needed for the /doc/sims/index.md file which provides a list of all the MicroSims in the textbook.

A unix shell script is use to get a screen image of the MicroSim. This shell script runs Google Chrome headless and creates a 800px wide image where the height of the screen image is determined by the iframe height.

The screen capture shell scrip is installed in ~/.local/bin/bk-capture-screenshot as a symbolic link to the $BK_HOME/scripts/bk-capture-screenshot program

bk-capture-screenshot has 3 command line parameters:

$1 MicroSim directory path (default: current directory) $2 Delay in seconds for JS rendering (default: 3) $3 Target image height in pixels (default: 600)

Tip: use the iframe height from the MicroSim's index.md file to get the correct height.

Sample Usage:

bk-capture-screenshot /path/to/microsim 3 700    # 3 second delay, 700px height

Output:

Creates .png in the MicroSim directory that is typically around 50K bytes.

---

Step 9: Visual Layout Review (MANDATORY)

MANDATORY after capturing the screenshot. This is the visual QA counterpart to the iframe-tester utility (which uses Playwright bounding-box checks). Layout review catches the defects that geometry checks miss: clipped row labels, controls overlapping, text rendered with residual strokes, panel content overflow, low-contrast labels, draw-order bugs, and library-specific rendering issues.

The screenshot from Step 8 is the input — do not re-capture.

Use the layout-reviewer utility in microsim-utils on each newly-generated sim:

For each sim that was generated in this batch:
  1. Read references/visual-checklist.md from microsim-utils
  2. Read the sim's screenshot PNG (Read tool — Claude Vision sees it)
  3. Walk every checklist item; mark PASS / FAIL / N/A with quoted
     evidence for any FAIL
  4. For each FAIL, consult references/common-fixes.md and apply the
     smallest patch that resolves it (typically a small edit to the
     .js for p5.js / Chart.js / vis-network / Leaflet sims, or to
     main.html for Mermaid sims)
  5. Re-capture, re-read, re-walk the checklist
  6. Stop after 3 review-patch cycles even if issues remain — surface
     residue rather than over-tweak

The utility documents its full workflow at ~/.claude/skills/microsim-utils/references/layout-reviewer.md. From this generator's standpoint, the contract is: "after Step 8, every sim must have passed layout review or had its remaining defects explicitly reported."

What layout review does NOT do:

• Does not fix iframe-height clipping (content extending past the iframe edge) — that's sync-iframe-heights.py and the iframe-tester utility (microsim-utils) from Step 6B / 6C.
• Does not modify approved sims (frontmatter status: approved). In this generator's flow that's irrelevant — newly-generated sims are not yet approved — but the rule still applies.

Why this is mandatory in the generator: the value of catching layout defects at generation time, before the user sees the sim, is much higher than catching them later. Visual review at the end of Step 8 means "looks right when embedded" is part of the definition of done for every new MicroSim, not a separate manual QA pass.

---

Workflow Summary

Batch (Chapter-Level) Generation

Step 0: Set UTILS and PROJECT paths
  ↓
Step 1: extract-sim-specs.py → /tmp/ch-specs.json
  ↓
Step 2: generate-sim-scaffold.py → creates main.html, index.md, metadata.json
  ↓
Step 3: Instructional Design Checkpoint (per sim)
  ↓
Step 4: Write .js files (creative work — route to guide, implement)
  ↓
Step 5: add-iframes-to-chapter.py → inserts/fixes iframes
  ↓
Step 6: validate-sims.py → scores quality, fix issues
  ↓
Step 6B: sync-iframe-heights.py → syncs iframe heights (own page + chapter embeds)
  ↓
Step 6C: test-iframe-heights.py → Playwright verifies controls visible in iframe
  ↓
Step 7: update-mkdocs-nav.py → regenerates nav
  ↓
Step 8: bk-capture-screenshot /path/to/microsim 3 {height} → creates screen image
  ↓
Step 9: microsim-utils layout-reviewer → Claude Vision walks the checklist,
        diagnoses + patches FAILs, re-captures to verify (max 3 cycles)

Single Sim Generation

Step 0:  Set UTILS and PROJECT paths
  ↓
Step 1B: Write 1-entry spec JSON + scaffold
  ↓
Step 3:  Instructional Design Checkpoint
  ↓
Step 4:  Write .js file
  ↓
Step 6:  validate-sims.py --sim <name>
  ↓
Step 6B: sync-iframe-heights.py --sim <name>
  ↓
Step 6C: test-iframe-heights.py --sim <name> → Playwright verifies controls visible
  ↓
Step 7:  update-mkdocs-nav.py
  ↓
Step 8:  bk-capture-screenshot /path/to/microsim 3 {height} → creates screen image
  ↓
Step 9:  microsim-utils layout-reviewer → Claude Vision walks the checklist,
         diagnoses + patches FAILs, re-captures to verify (max 3 cycles)

Resuming After Context Window Fills

When a batch run fills the context window mid-chapter:

1. The new session reads sim-status.json to see what's done
2. Sims in implemented or later status are skipped
3. Sims in specified or scaffolded status still need .js files

# Check where we left off
python3 $UTILS/extract-sim-specs.py \
    --project-dir $PROJECT \
    --chapter <chapter-dir-name> \
    --status-file /tmp/sim-status.json \
    --verbose

---

Available Generators

Primary Generators

Generator	Library	Best For
p5-guide	p5.js	Custom simulations, physics, animations
chartjs-guide	Chart.js	Bar, line, pie, doughnut, radar charts
timeline-guide	vis-timeline	Chronological events, history, schedules
map-guide	Leaflet.js	Geographic data, locations, routes
vis-network-guide	vis-network	Network graphs, dependencies, concept maps
mermaid-guide	Mermaid.js	Flowcharts, workflows, UML diagrams
plotly-guide	Plotly.js	Mathematical function plots
venn-guide	Custom	Set relationships (2-4 sets)
bubble-guide	Chart.js	Priority matrices, multi-dimensional data
causal-loop-guide	vis-network	Systems thinking, feedback loops, multi-loop CLD articles
comparison-table-guide	Custom	Side-by-side comparisons with ratings
html-table	Custom	Matrix comparisons with clickable cells, detail panels
celebration-guide	p5.js	Particle effects, visual feedback
concept-classifier-guide	p5.js	Classification quizzes — sort scenarios into categories
infographic-overlay-guide	Custom (diagram.js)	Interactive callout/zone overlays on illustrations
docker-python-lab-guide	Custom (docker-lab.js)	Runnable Python labs in Docker containers

Shared Standards

All MicroSims follow these standards regardless of generator:

Directory Structure:

docs/sims/<microsim-name>/
├── main.html       # Main visualization file
├── index.md        # Documentation page
├── *.js or *.css   # Supporting files
└── metadata.json   # Dublin Core metadata (optional)

URI Scheme for Discoverability:

All MicroSim HTML files MUST include this schema meta tag for global discoverability:

<meta name="schema" content="https://dmccreary.github.io/intelligent-textbooks/ns/microsim/v1">

This enables counting and discovery of MicroSims across GitHub using code search. See the URI Scheme documentation for details.

Integration:

• Embedded via iframe in MkDocs pages
• Width-responsive design
• Non-scrolling iframe container
• Standard height: CANVAS_HEIGHT + 2px (where CANVAS_HEIGHT is declared in a // CANVAS_HEIGHT: <value> comment at the top of the .js file — see Step 4.4)
• Prevent scroll hijacking:
  • Keep chapter iframes non-scrolling: scrolling="no"
  • Do not consume page wheel-scroll by default inside sims (for example, set Leaflet scrollWheelZoom: false unless explicitly requested)
• Iframe paths MUST always be relative, NEVER absolute:
  • From a sim's own index.md: <iframe src="main.html" ...>
  • From chapter files (docs/chapters/*/index.md): <iframe src="../../sims/[sim-name]/main.html" ...>
  • NEVER use absolute paths like /sims/... — they break on GitHub Pages where the site is served under a subdirectory (e.g., /geometry-course/)

Quality Checklist:

• Runs without errors in modern browsers
• Responsive to container width
• Controls respond immediately
• Does not hijack page scrolling when embedded in an iframe
• Educational purpose is clear
• Code is well-commented
• Does not call textFont() unless a specific font is explicitly required by the design — never use textFont('Segoe UI'), which is a Windows-only font unavailable on macOS/Linux

Examples

Example 1: Timeline Request

User: "Create a timeline showing key events in computer history" Routing: Keywords "timeline", "events", "history" → references/timeline-guide.md Action: Read timeline-guide.md and follow its workflow

Example 2: Chart Request

User: "Make a bar chart comparing programming language popularity" Routing: Keywords "bar chart", "comparing" → references/chartjs-guide.md Action: Read chartjs-guide.md and follow its workflow

Example 3: Custom Simulation

User: "Build an interactive bouncing ball simulation" Routing: Keywords "interactive", "bouncing", "simulation" → references/p5-guide.md Action: Read p5-guide.md and follow its workflow

Example 4: Ambiguous Request

User: "Create a graph of our project dependencies" Routing: "graph" + "dependencies" suggests network → references/vis-network-guide.md Action: Read vis-network-guide.md (but clarify if user meant a chart)

Example 5: Chapter Batch

User: "Generate MicroSims for chapter 11" Action: Step 0 → Step 1 → Step 2 → Step 3-4 (loop per sim) → Step 5 → Step 6 → Step 6B → Step 6C → Step 7

Example 6: Classification Quiz

User: "Create a quiz where students identify which cognitive bias each scenario shows" Routing: Keywords "identify", "classify scenarios" → references/concept-classifier-guide.md Action: Read concept-classifier-guide.md and follow its workflow

Example 7: Causal Loop Article

User: "Show the feedback loops in supply chain bullwhip" Routing: Keywords "feedback loops" → references/causal-loop-guide.md Action: Read causal-loop-guide.md; full article if requested, single inline CLD otherwise

Example 8: Labeled Diagram Overlay

User: "Make an interactive anatomy diagram of a moss sporophyte with labeled structures" Routing: Keywords "anatomy", "labeled" → references/infographic-overlay-guide.md Action: Read infographic-overlay-guide.md and follow the callout workflow

Example 9: Python Lab

User: "Add a runnable Python lab about list operations to this page" Routing: Keywords "runnable", "Python lab" → references/docker-python-lab-guide.md Action: Read docker-python-lab-guide.md and follow its workflow

Reference Files

For detailed information, consult:

• references/routing-criteria.md - Complete scoring methodology for all generators
• references/<generator>-guide.md - Specific implementation guide for each generator
• assets/templates/ - Shared templates and patterns

sim-status.json Lifecycle

The extract-sim-specs.py --status-file flag generates a lifecycle tracking file. States progress as:

Status	Meaning
specified	Has spec in chapter but no sim directory yet
scaffolded	Directory with main.html/index.md but no substantive JS
implemented	JS file exists and >50 lines
validated	quality_score >= 70
deployed	Validated + iframe present in chapter